Therapeutic vibrator



May 5, 1923. 3,4552@ P. W. HOFFMANN THERAPEUTIC VIBRATOR Filed Aug. 24 1921 Patented May 15, i.

i ares 'PAUL W. HOFFMANN, OF NEYW YORK, 1\T. Y.

'rnnaarnu'rro visitaron.

Application inea August 24, 1921. serial No. 494,819.

To ,alliwhom t may concern Be it known that I, PAUL `W. Herrmann, .a citizen of Germany, but having declared my iritention of becoming a citizen of the '5 United States,residing at N ew Yorkcity, in

th`ecounty of New York and State of New York,haveinvented certain new and useful lImprovements in Therapeutic Vibrators, of

which the following` is a specification.

:AyThis'inventionrelates to surgical or thera Ypelutic apparatus or instruments, and has [particular reference to vibrators calculated for the relief of various nervous or other ail ine-rits er disorders 1.5 llriionggtlieobjects of this invention is to provide'ia'vibrator of the character set forth `that is of relatively simple mechanical con struction and one which maybe manufactured and sold at a reasonable price, and 'one which moreover is most effective in therapeutic action and which is practically indestructible.

i. n V,A further object of the invention is to provide therapeutic vibrator of such anature as to be adapted for use in practically any home as `well as in the oifice 'of the average l'practitioner,` because of the nature of the means for causing the vibratory movements orim'pulses of the contact member.

v ,With the foregoing and other objects in view theinvention consists in the arrangenient and combination of parts hereinafter yd lescribedand claimed, and while the inventijonrisnot restricted to the exact details of r jeonstruction disclosed or suggested. herein,

stillgfor thepurposeof illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to A'the accompanying drawings,` in which like reference characters designate the same parts '40 lin'thefseveral views, and in which- 'fFigure 1`is `a diagram indicatingmy improved device in operative connection with an ordinary water faucet.

, Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of f 'tliemain part of'my improvement, the parts beingwshown in normal or idle position.

y Fig. 3 is la vertical transverse section on the line 'f5-Bof Fig 2. Y

Fi is'avview taken from the same plane F 1g. 8 but looking in the opposite direction.

Figg isa fragmentary view corresponfb Yiiigfgjt'o Yigg?, but indicating the valve open "a d'jf'with tliemweig'ht at about its extreme psitiontoward the valve.

Referring new. more specifically to the drawings show my improved vibrator as comprisinga casing' composed of innerl and outer telescopic shell members 10 and 11, between the overlapping edges of which is gripped the edge 12 of an elastic diaphragm or weighted member 13. ,This diaphragm is practically imperforate and is weighted at its central port-ion by means of a heavy'rnass 14, shown as con'iposed` oftwo relativelythick disks of metal clamped to the opposite sides of the central portion of the diaphragm as by means of a screw 15 and whereby the weight is held suspended by the free portion of the diaphragm out of contact with lany part of the casing. The weight is free `to vibrate and reciprocate to and fro along` the central airis 'of thecasingso far asp'ermitted by the resiliency of the freejpart ofthe diaphragm. When the weight thus vreciprocates within the interior of -the casing its momentum as it approaches the limit of movement in either direction causes a cushvacuum chamber 16, subject to successive variations in atmosphericpressure, and the chamber 17 in which there lispractlcally a constant atmospheric pressure, Jthis chamber being open "to the atmosphere through any suitable port 18. rl`his poiamav conveniently be regulated in size by the operators linger or thumb `while the device is in use, and hence with the variation in'siz'e of the port or the closing thereof the force `of the 'vibration may be varied or reduced :so as to make it materially milder than is ordinarily desired. In other words when the port 18 1s closed the apparatus is 4adapted'forfpractical operation but withv a therapeutic manifestationmuch milder than'whentheport 18 i open. l

Attached to and leading from any desired portion of the member 10 is a nozzle `19 for `the attachment ofany'suitable-fiekible tube 2O whose other end is attached 'to'af'tnbula'r extension 21 adapted to befdetachably secured to any `suitable waterjovvdevice `such 1'asan ordinary watervfauc'et 22,1 an'dthrongh which extension 21 the iow of water from the open faucet 22 will cause the air suction toward the water flow and the creation of a partial vacuum or reduced atmospheric pressure within the vacuum chamber 16.

Except as above indicated the vacuum chamber is normally closed from the atmosphere, but I provide a vent 23 in the casing part 10, preferably in the axis of the device, and at 24 lprovide a valve outside of said vent normally closing the same by a light spiral spring 25 secured onk the inside of the casing and acting normally inwaid on the valve, bearing against the interior head 26 attached to the valve. This head 26 thus lies in the path of the weight, but thev parts are so designed that it is never actually en gaged directly by the weight. It is intended however for the valve to be opened by direct action of the weight while the weight is approaching; the valve or moving toward the right as shown in the drawings.

As the mechanism is thus far described, the. action may be briefly summarized as follows: The two chambers 16 and 17 both have the saine condition of atmospheric pressure when idle. When the vacuum forming means is operated however the normal pressure in the chamber 16 is suddenly reduced causing` the weighted diaphragm 13 to be drawn to or toward the position of Fig. 5, the port 18 being` large enough to not materially interfere with such movement. This movement of the weight toward the right causes the free portion of the rubber diaphragm to be stretched, and the diaphragm is;so designed as to strength as to cause the weight to be checked in its movement toward the right before it strikes the casing member 10. This action however is dependent -upon the fact that before the weight can strike the casing the valve 24; will be opened7 admitting atmospheric air into the chamber 16, breaking instantly and momentarily the suction therein caused by the suction mechanism, and permitting the tension of the diaphragm to throw the weight in the opposite direction toward the contact surface 27 ofthe casing, the surface intended to be held in contact with patient. When the weight thus travels awav from' the valve the valve will again be closed, as by the action of the spring` 25` and, secondly,-more firmly seated by the renewed vacuum imamongcthe reasons for which are the following:- first, ther valve should be as short as possible, and,v secondly, the valve must beheld open for the best results for a longer time than `could be possible if the vweight lstruck the `valve head directly. l there- We providewhat .terma valve'opener 2.8

in the form of a Hat strip resiliently connected ,at 29 tothe weight. The normal position of the plate 28 is as shown in Fig. 2, slightly spaced from the end of the weight and also spaced from the valve head 26. lllhcn the suction impulse moves the weight suddenlyv toward the right the valve is opened by the valve opener striking the head 26 before the weight is brought to a stop by the tension of the diaphragm, and during the return reciprocation `or movement of the weight toward "the leftv immediately thereafter the valve is held open by the member 28 as much longer thanfit could V be held open by direct contact of the weight as is represented by the relative movement between the weight and the plate 28, thus etfecting the Vcomplete breakingof the vacuum and reducing the pressume in the chamy ber 16 while the weight is moving toward' the left. Thus the successive reduction in the chamber 16 does not become effect-ive until the weight approaches the contactsur-v face 2'? when it will bechecked by the tension of the diaphragm in connection with the then effective vacuum. v

Thus it will. be understood vthat I hav produced a relatively simple and reliable mechanical therapeutic vibrator adapted for practical operation and which may be operated successfully for a long period of time without retpiirement for readjust-ment or renewal, and also that the device isoffa most pleasant nature therapeutically and one thatn may be readily varied vin strength or ef?l fectiveness bythe regulation of air flowing into one of the casing chambers.

The tubular member 21 for causing a partial'vacuum in the chamber 16 is preferably made substantially as indicated, with -a restricted bore l30 into about the center sage or bore Below the restriction 30 4the tube 2l is enlarged forminga cavity 32 of suitable caiacity and this is restricted subsequently in thevother directionl bythe resiliency `of the diaphragm, y A

2. In a therapeutic vibrator, the combination with a casing comprising two parts telescopically connected, an elastic imperforate diaphragm whose periphery is gripped between the two parts of the casing and thereby held extending across the interior o' the casing dividing the casing into two chambers7 one ot which chambers is open to the atmosphere, a weight supported upon the diaphragm in spaced relation to the casing and movable relatively thereto to cause the casing to vibrate, and means to reduce the air pressure in the chamber not open to the atmosphere to initiate the movement ot the diaphragm and weight in one directionr` the weight being returned in the opposite direction by the inherent resiliency otthe diaphragm.

3. In a therapeutic vibrator, a casing, an elastic rubber diaphragm stretched across the same between its ends, a weight attached to the diaphragm and held thereby from all contact with the casing, and means to reciprocate the weight in one direction from the plane of the diaphragm, such reciprocation being cushioned by the elasticity of the diaphragm and whereby the weight is reeiprocated in the opposite direction in alternation causing vibration of the casing.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the latter mentioned chamber not normally open to the atmosphere is fitted with a normally closed valve opened by the weight as it approaches the end of its movement in one direction.

A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the latter mentioned chamber is provided with a normally closed valve and the weight carries a resilient valve opener7 whereby the valve is held open longer than if engaged directly by the weight.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

PAUL IV. HOFFMANN. 

